50 quotes
Success teaches us nothing; only failure teaches.
I believe it is the duty of each of us to act as if the fate of the world depended on him.
When doing a job — any job — one must feel that he owns it, and act as though he will remain in that job forever.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
To do a job effectively, one must set priorities. Too many people let their "in" basket set the priorities.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
A system under which it takes three men to check what one is doing is not control; it is systematic strangulation.
Any one detail, followed through to its source, will usually reveal the general state of readiness of the whole organization.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Administration is, or ought to be, a necessary overhead to aid production, and should at all times be kept as low as possible.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Require rising standards of adequacy.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Knowing more about the public effects his work will have, the engineer ought to consider himself an “officer of the court” and keep the general interest always in mind.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
Thoughts arising from practical experience may be a bridle or a spur.
Free discussion requires an atmosphere unembarrassed by any suggestion of authority or even respect.
Some of the ideas I try to get across to the people who work for me are the following
US Naval Postgraduate School Address (1954)
As a guide to engineering ethics, I should like to commend to you a liberal adaptation of the injunction contained in the oath of Hippocrates that the professional man do nothing that will harm his client.
The Rickover Effect (1992)
He is dead now. I am sure God will treat him as he merits.
A man, by working 24 hours a day, could multiply himself 3 times. To multiply himself more than 3 times the only recourse is to train others to take over some of his work.
More than ambition, more than ability, it is rules that limit contribution; rules are the lowest common denominator of human behavior. They are a substitute for rational thought.
Responsibility is broad and continuous. None of us are ever free of it, even if our work is unsuccessful.
Yet it is incumbent on those in high places to make wise decisions and it is reasonable and important that the public be correctly informed. It is consequently incumbent on all of us to state the facts as forthrightly as possible.
Paper Reactors, Real Reactors (1953)
I do not have regrets. I believe I helped preserve the peace for this country. Why should I regret that?
Exchange with Admiral Rickover (1982)
Nature is not as forgiving as Christ.
The Rickover Effect (1992)